JMM pulls up Paulus

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Paulus Surin

Ranchi, March 2: The JMM today showcaused its Torpa MLA Paulus Surin for his recent tirade against chief minister Hemant Soren’s style of governance in public.

“Over the past few days, he (Surin) has made unnecessary allegations against the chief minister and has spoken against the party line. His act has been intolerable. He has been asked to explain within a week, failing which disciplinary actions will be taken against him,” JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said.

Incidentally, Surin had launched a similar attack on Hemant two years ago, but was spared after he tendered apology.

In the past week, the JMM legislator had expressed his displeasure over the chief minister’s way of functioning and even questioned Hemant’s efficiency. He had said that administrative matters of the state had been better managed under President’s rule, adding that the party ignored “good suggestions” from its MLAs.

Sources in the JMM said that Surin was “hurt” after the government ignored his requests to appoint officials of his choice in his home borough. Threatening to resign from the Assembly, the MLA had said he felt suffocated in the party.

Speaking to The Telegraph on Sunday, Surin said: “Nobody in the party bothered to ask me about my grievances and now they are slapping me with a showcause. I am a party member, but that does not take away my right to fair criticism (about the government). No development work is taking place in my constituency, where the government has appointed tainted officials. I will take a decision very soon.”

The Torpa MLA has found support in Borio legislator Lobin Hembrom. “The government and the party should hear the voice of MLAs. In tribal-dominated areas, tribal officials should be appointed. The party should hear him (Surin) out patiently,” Hembrom said.

Surin, a former member of the banned Left-wing rebel group PLFI contested as a JMM nominee in the 2009 Assembly elections from behind bars. Facing several criminal charges, he remained in jail for a year after the polls. He had lobbied for a ministerial berth in the Hemant government in July last year, but failed to have his way.